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Holland's Tulips 8-day Bike & Barge Tour (ZW & FLE)
This wonderful Bike & Barge Tour that starts and ends in Amsterdam, takes you through the provinces of South- and North Holland while spring flowers are in bloom. You will spend time in the historical cities of Haarlem, Leiden, Gouda and Alkmaar and learn about the water management of these lowlands at the North Sea. You will also visit the famous Keukenhof gardens, known by the hundreds of thousands of blooming tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and other bulb flowers. The world-famous Aalsmeer flower auction is on the program where an astonishing volume of beautiful flowers are being traded daily and exported all over the world the World. One night the barge mooring is at the open air museum ‘the Zaanse Schans’ with its windmills, cheese farm and picturesque wooden houses. You will be surprised by the beautiful, varied scenery and the wonderful cycle paths of Holland
There are 2 boutique barges that take this 8 day Tulip tour.
Ship 1: This barge started cruising in 2002. This tasteful passenger barge with her sleek lines was built to fit the smaller locks, sluices and canals in France and has been cruising the French waters ever since. But don’t let her size fool you! The Fleur can accommodate a maximum of 20 guests in the 10 comfortable cabins on the lower deck, each with private sanitary facilities, central heating and air-conditioning. On the upper deck there is a lounge with large windows, a roomy sitting area and bar, and outside a half-covered sun deck. Wonderful for a cup of coffee or tea, or a glass of wine.
Ship 2: The second barde is the classic ship of captain Martijn and his spouse Marjorie. On the lower deck are 12 cabins: 10 twins and 2 doubles. All with a bathroom, a window (can open only in the double cabins) and individual air conditioning. On the main deck you can have a seat and a refreshing drink in the lounge corner of the cozy salon with its large panoramic windows. Or enjoy your breakfast and delicious three course dinner in the adjacent restaurant area. And with a little bit of sunshine you should take a seat on the sun deck.
If you would like to rent a bike (105 EUR) or e-bike (270 EUR), please contact our office when booking: [email protected]
Slow Tours offers a number of other Bike & Barge tour in Europe
Embarkation: Amsterdam
Amsterdam - Spaarndam | Spaarndam – Haarlem 6km or 14km
You are welcome to check in between 1pm and 2pm. The crew will welcome you with coffee and tea. At 2.30pm the barge leaves the harbour. While the barge sails to Haarlem, your tour leader will tell you about the tour, the cycling and safety. From Spaarndam you have the option to do a little test ride. After dinner on board, the tour leader will take you on a town walk through the beautiful city centre of Haarlem.
Haarlem – Keukenhof – Leiden 38km
Today’s trip leads you through the oldest tulip fields of Holland, including a visit of the Keukenhof gardens. This is the most beautiful bulb park in the world. Keukenhof is the place where the spring breaks. An overwhelming blaze of colours, seven million flowering tulips in a magnificent 80-acres’ background of traditional and modern gardening architecture. You also can admire the various hyacinths, daffodils and many other colourful flowers. In the afternoon you cycle to the city of Leiden. Dinner on board and after that you can join the walk through town.
Leiden – Gouda 32km or 40km
Breakfast while sailing out of Leiden. Your cycling tour starts just outside Leiden and leads through the ‘green heart’ of Holland. Near Zoeterwoude, you will visit a cheese farm where you will learn about the cheese-making process and you will have the opportunity to taste the results. In the afternoon you reach Gouda, famous for the Gouda cheese. Gouda has an attractive compact centre with her pretty market square and Gothic town hall. The main church of Gouda, devoted to Saint John, is world famous for its stained glass windows. After dinner you can join the walk through town.
Gouda – Alphen a/d Rijn | Alphen a/d Rijn – Kudelstaart 20km or 44km
We stay in Gouda this morning. You have the opportunity to do some shopping and to visit the market square with its cheese weigh house or you can visit the St. Johns church. We leave by barge around noon and have a light lunch on board. From Alphen aan den Rijn you cycle through the ‘green heart’ of South Holland via river Drecht and Amstel-Drecht channel to Kudelstaart.
Kudelstaart – Flower auction | Aalsmeer – Amsterdam | Amsterdam – Zaanse Schans 32km or 41km
At 6.30am you can drink an early cup of coffee. After that you cycle to the flower auction of Aalsmeer, the largest of Europe. Here, huge quantities of flowers are trucked in and sold every day, after which they are distributed all over Europe. After your visit you return on board (around 9am) for a late breakfast while the barge sails to Amsterdam. You will enjoy a nice cruise, right through the city.
Today’s cycling tour takes you from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans, a unique hamlet where people live and work, with original houses and windmills from the river Zaan area. The hamlet is dominated by operating windmills, the oldest built in 1673, for grinding mustard, spices, paint and oil and for sawing wood into planks. As you walk through the village you will see a clock museum, an old-fashioned grocery store, a house with period furniture, a clog maker and a cheese farm.
Zaanse Schans – Alkmaar 29km or 40km
This morning you cycle to the Hortus Bulborum, a unique garden museum dedicated to the preservation of rare and historic bulbs. More than 4,000 tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other flowers are planted here. Your cycling tour continues to Egmond at the North sea. The tour goes through the dunes to Alkmaar. This town is known as a Dutch cheese city. As you wander through the streets you’ll be amazed by the beauty of Alkmaar’s Old Town, with its well-preserved 17th century buildings and narrow, winding canals. Dinner in town at your own account.
Alkmaar – Amsterdam 37km or 54km
After breakfast your cycling tour leads you to the former windmill complex of the Schermer Polder. Here we visit the Schermerhorn Windmill Museum. Your next stop is the beautiful town of De Rijp. Centuries of history are still evident here in De Rijp’s wooden facades, beautiful church, lock and town hall. From here, your ride continues back to Amsterdam. In the late afternoon or evening there is time for a canal tour through the famous canals of the city.
Amsterdam
End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30am
Our very first tour was the eight day Tulip Premium Tour on the Fleur. We had high hopes for the adventures and they were met and exceeded ten fold. The tour was fabulous from start to finish and I can enthusiastically recommend this tour, boat, staff, and guides. The bikes were excellent, accommodations and food were outstanding, and I felt encouraged and supported throughout the trip. Special kudos to the amazing guides Marianne and Gijsbert who really were outstanding! Two thumbs - and eight fingers -- enthusiastically way up!! - April 2019
Tours marked with are special prices.
| Start | End | Max. No. Guests | Accommodation | Price p.p. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 29 2025 | Apr 05 2025 | 20 | Single rooms | 0€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,549€ | |||||
| Mar 30 2025 | Apr 06 2025 | 20 | Single rooms | 2,324€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,549€ | |||||
| Apr 05 2025 | Apr 12 2025 | 20 | Single rooms | 2,699€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,799€ | |||||
| Apr 06 2025 | Apr 13 2025 | 20 | Single rooms | 2,699€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,799€ | |||||
| Apr 13 2025 | Apr 20 2025 | 20 | Single rooms | 2,699€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,799€ | |||||
| Apr 20 2025 | Apr 27 2025 | 20 | Single rooms | 0€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,799€ | |||||
| Apr 26 2025 | May 03 2025 | 20 | Single rooms | 0€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,799€ | |||||
| Apr 27 2025 | May 04 2025 | 20 | Single rooms | 2,699€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,799€ |
If you would like to drive yourself before or after your tour, ask us for a quote on any brand new Renault, Peugeot or Citroen vehicle for driving in Europe.
Pick up your vehicle from most capital cities in Europe and return it to your drop off destination. Top insurance cover. Email [email protected] for a competitive quote
24
My husband and I just completed the 8 day Tulip Tour. It was fabulous in every way. The ship is beautiful, comfortable, and well maintained. Every staff member went out of their way to be sure all passengers were happy and well taken care of. The food was outstanding! Michael surprised us every day when we returned from riding with a special culinary delight. I highly recommend this trip! - April 2022